Convertible lawn sprinkler

ABSTRACT

A sprinkler head of modern design is enclosed within a closed split housing that includes oppositely disposed wall sections connected to a base. Snap action springs selectively cause the outward rotation of the wall sections so that the wall sections become inverted and forcefully raise the base up off the ground. This elevates the sprinkler head above the ground and increases the irrigation efficiency thereof. A wall section of the housing carries indicia thereon indicating the name and location of a residence. With a closed housing placed on a lawn ground surface, the indicia becomes visible.

United States Patent Lightfoot 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] CONVERTIBLE LAWN SPRINKLER [72] Inventor: Marvin E. Lightfoot, Pacific Marina- Caravel Apt. 204, Alameda, Calif. 94501 [22] Filed: Sept. 16,1970

211 Appl. No.: 72,660

[52] US. Cl ..239/289, 220/18, 248/87 [51] Int. Cl ..B05b 15/00 [58] Field otSearch ..239/289, 273,275,276, 279; 220/18; 248/156, 87, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,794 10/ 1949 Reuter ..220/ 18 2,613,010 10/1952 Atkinson ..220/ 18 2,947,483 8/1960 Larson ..239/273X 3,519,234 7/1970 Matson ..248/l56 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant ExaminerThomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A sprinkler head of modern design is enclosed within a closed split housing that includes oppositely disposed wall sections connected to a base. Snap action springs selectively cause the outward rotation of the wall sections so that the wall sections become inverted and forcefully raise the base up off the ground. This elevates the sprinkler head above the ground and increases the irrigation efficiency thereof. A wall section of the housing carries indicia thereon indicating the name and location of a residence. With a closed housing placed on a lawn ground surface, the indicia becomes visible.

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@Mm WWW mm CONVERTIBLE LAWN SPRINKLER The present invention relates to a device that displays the identification of a residence and which includes a lawn sprinkler with interchangeable sprinkler heads.

The present invention includes a sprinkler head normally enclosed within a closed split housing. The outside of the housing bears indicia so as to serve as a permanent lawn marker. The housing walls which enclose the sprinkler head are spring mounted so that they can open. The wall sections swing outwardly and downwardly during which time the housing base has been elevated above ground. This exposure of the sprinkling head increases the efficiency of the device during irrigation.

Anchor means are provided for normally retaining the housing in a particular spot. However, the anchor means are releasable to render the device portable.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the housing closed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 2-2 illustrating the interior components ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating in phantom partial displacement of the housing wall section.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the final disposition of a sprinkler head when the housing wall sections have undergone full rotation and have elevated the sprinkler head above the ground.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view taken along a plane passing through section line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating in detail the inclusion of a snap action spring within the hinged wall sections of the housing.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 77 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the figures and more particularly FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a rectangular shaped housing or enclosure having mating wall sections 12 and 14 which form an interface along their contacting edges 16. The lower edges of the wall sections are pivotally mounted to a base member 18 by means of piano hinges 20. The wall sections are normally retained in locked relation by a lock 17, the structure of which is dealt with in detail hereinafter.

As will be indicated in FIG. 6, an elongated snap action spring 22 concentrically embraces a hinge pin 23 so that when lock 17 (FIG. 1) is unlocked, the wall sections 12 and 14 are biased downwardly and outwardly as indicated in FIG. 3, thereby exposing sprinkling means enclosed within the housing. However, the housing is normally closed as indicated in FIG. I and triangular elements. or abutments 26 connected to the lower inside edges of the wall sections serve as mechanical stops for retaining the wall sections in proper relative disposition.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the outside of the wall housing 14 can bear indicia generally indicated by 28 which in a typical example identifies a particular residence. Thus, with the housing closed and placed on a lawn, the device serves as a lawn marker.

In order to prevent the device from being misplaced by persons or pets, anchoring stakes 30 with barbs 31 are driven into the ground and extend upwardly to meet the base 18. Securement means 32 to be discussed hereinafter secure the base to the stakes so that the housing cannot be easily moved. A block 34 is centrally positioned on base -18. A pipe section 38 or conduit in the form of an elbow is positioned in a mating channel 36. A first outwardly extending coupling 40 mounts a removable water supply hose 42 which extends through an opening 43 formed in the lower transverse portions of the wall sections 12 and 14. A second threaded fitting 44 is positioned in perpendicular relation to the fitting 40 and serves to receive interchangeable sprinkler heads 46. Interchangeable heads of varying contours and dimensions permit most efficient irrigation under different conditions.

Considering the individual components of the present invention, reference is made to FIG. 5 illustrating the lock generally indicated by reference 17. As will be noted. the lock includes a conventional tumbler assembly 48 having an elongated L-shaped latch 50 connected thereto. This latch engages a keeper projection 52 so that when oppositely directed lateral forces are imposed upon the wall sections, the walls are retained in locked relation. Once the lock is unlocked, the walls 12 and 14 snap downwardly as'illustrated by position 54 in FIG. 3. In this position, the sidewalls first contact the ground surface after having undergone rotation. The sidewall sections will remain in this position until thumbscrews 55 are rotated to a base releasing position. As will be seen in FIG. 3, the thumbscrew 55 concentrically mounts a spring 56 which is positioned between the head of the thumbscrew and a washer 58 secured to the upper surface of base 18. The lower end of the thumbscrew mounts a crosspin-64 which generally contacts the underside of a slotted ring 60 that is interiorly attached to anchor stakes 30. Diametrically opposing slots 62 are formed in ring 60 so that when the thumbscrew 55 is rotated the crosspins 64 fall into alignment with the slots. Spring 56 will cause disengagement between the crosspins and ring 60 thereby freeing the base from further anchoring. Once this happens, the wall sections 12 and 14 are free to undergo further rotation under the influence of the snap action spring 22. As further rotation occurs, displacement of the wall sections becomes angularly obtuse and results in upward displacement of base 18 above the ground level. This continues until the base is raised by three or four inches as finally illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, block 34 and the sprinkling head 46 mounted thereto become well elevated above the ground surface thereby increasing the irrigation efficiency of the device. It will also be noted in FIG. 4 that thumbscrew 55 becomes detached from the anchor stake 30 as soon as th base 18 moves upwards.

When changing sprinkling heads or manipulating the supply hose 42, it is preferable that the thumbscrew 55 remain in interlocking engagement with the anchor stake 30 so when the wall sections are released they will only undergo 90 rotation as shown in FIG. 3. This will expose the interior of the sprinkling device while retaining it in a secure position against the ground.

Of course, when the thumbscrews 55 are disengaged from anchor stakes 30, the sprinkling device becomes portable and easily moved from one place to another on a lawn.

If desired, a timer valve could be installed on the base of the device so as to cut the water supply off after a desired interval.

Also, sealed light units could be located on the base 18, and if the wall sections were fabricated from a translucent material such as plastic, the indicia 28 would become back-lighted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An irrigation device comprising sprinkling means,,a housing for enclosing the sprinkling means, the housing'having disconnectable wall sections, means for releasing the wall sections, and biasing means connected to the wall sections for causing their outward pivotal rotation upon actuation of the release means thereby exposing the sprinkling means .in preparation of irrigation.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the housing is normally positioned against the ground and further wherein the biasing means includes snap-action springs connected between the wall sections and a housing base supporting the sprinkling means, the spring causing initial 90 rotation of the wall sections, the sections thereby making contact with the ground followed by additional obtuse rotation for elevating the base and the supported sprinkling means above the ground.

3. The structure of claim 2 with ground anchor means connected to the base for selectively maintaining the base in contact with the ground thereby limiting the wall section rotation to 90, the anchor means being releasable for rendering the device portable.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the sprinkling means is interchangeable for altering irrigation distribution characteristics.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the sprinkling means includes a fitting for removably mounting a water supply hose.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of a housing wall section bears indicia thereon for identifying a residence.

7. A convertible permanent lawn marker comprising a housing for concealing a sprinkler, indicia being imprinted on the housing for identifying a residence, and means for selectively opening the housing thereby exposing the sprinkler and enabling its use for irrigation. 

1. An irrigation device comprising sprinkling means, a housing for enclosing the sprinkling means, the housing having disconnectable wall sections, means for releasing the wall sections, and biasing means connected to the wall sections for causing their outward pivotal rotation upon actuation of the release means thereby exposing the sprinkling means in preparation of irrigation.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the housing is normally positioned against the ground and further wherein the biasing means includes snap-action springs connected between the wall sections and a housing base supporting the sprinkling means, the spring causing initial 90* rotation of the wall sections, the sections thereby making contact with the ground followed by additional obtuse rotation for elevating the base and the supported sprinkling means above the ground.
 3. The structure of claim 2 with ground anchor means connected to the base for selectively maintaining the base in contact with the ground thereby limiting the wall section rotation to 90*, the anchor means being releasable for rendering the device portable.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the sprinkling means is interchangeable for altering irrigation distribution characteristics.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the sprinkling means includes a fitting for removably mounting a water supply hose.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of a housing wall section bears indicia thereon for identifying a residence.
 7. A convertible permanent lawn marker comprising a housing for concealing a sprinkler, indicia being imprinted on the housing for identifying a residence, and means for selectively opening the housing thereby exposing the sprinkler and enabling its use for irrigation. 